Photoprotective Activity of Ipomoea horsfalliae Flower Extract

In this work, we studied the potential photoprotective effect of Ipomoea horsfalliae Hook., Convolvulaceae, flower extract. Ipomoea horsfalliae is a plant that grows in tropical and subtropical regions. I. horsfalliae ethanolic extracts were analyzed by ultra-high efficiency liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry. Dicaffeoylquinic acid, chlorogenic acid, scopoletin, glycosylated cyanidin, pelargonidin, and kaempferol were identified as major components of I. horsfalliae flower extract. In vitro biossays were used to evaluate cytotoxic and sensitizing effects of the extracts, and their photoprotective effect was evaluated in BALB/c mice. Morphological and histopathological observation of the skin tissues from mice suggested that UV-B-induced edema was significantly inhibited by treatment with I. horsfalliae flower extract. It was not cytotoxic for both cancerous and normal cells, and no sensitizing effect was observed. I.horsfalliae flower extract appears to be a good starting point for research programs leading to the development of natural skin care products. Graphical abstract .